Bali to Gili Islands: Fast Boat Times, Prices and Tips

Every crossing from Bali is by fast boat. Four ports serve the route, and they differ a lot in speed. The times and fares below come from Trioffe's Gili Islands guide, which cites Direct Ferries and operator schedules from late 2026. They change with the operator and the season.

Padang Bai

Padang Bai is the shortest and cheapest route. It sits on Bali's east coast, about 1 hour 30 minutes from the Gilis on the fastest boats. Morning departures, around 8:00 to 10:40, are usually calmer. Check in about one hour before you sail.

Sanur and Serangan

These ports are closer to the airport and the south coast, but the crossing is much longer. Allow 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the operator and the stops. Pick Sanur if you already sleep there and do not want a long early-morning drive.

Amed

Boats leave Amed only occasionally. Check the current timetable before you plan around it.

Which Operators Run the Route

Established names include Eka Jaya, Bluewater Express, Gili Gili and Golden Queen. Compare departure time, boat age and what the fare includes. A cheaper ticket can mean a later boat or a longer trip.

Boats usually stop at Gili Trawangan first and Gili Air second. Plan your hotel around the first stop if you want to arrive early.

You can also reach the Gilis from Lombok. The boats are short, cheap and frequent. This is the better route if you are already on Lombok or if the Bali seas look rough.

Fly From Bali to Lombok

The flight from Bali to Lombok takes about 45 minutes and costs around US$75 to 80 one way, according to Trioffe's Lombok vs Bali comparison. From Lombok International Airport, Bangsal harbour is about two hours by road.

Public Boat From Bangsal

The public boat from Bangsal takes 15 to 20 minutes to Gili Air and costs around IDR 20,000. It leaves when full, needs no booking and runs in daytime only. A public island-hopping boat links all three islands twice a day for about IDR 35,000.

Speedboat From Teluk Nara

Speedboats from Teluk Nara take about 20 minutes and cost roughly IDR 125,000 per person. This is a good choice if you want a seat that does not depend on the boat filling up.

Private Charter

A private charter from Bangsal costs about IDR 400,000 per boat. It makes sense for a group of four or more, or if you arrive after the public boats stop.

Add a buffer if you have a flight home. A late boat and a two-hour drive can make a tight connection.

Pick your island before you pick your boat, because only some boats stop at all three. The comparison below uses the same breakdown as Trioffe's guide to choosing a Gili island.

Gili Trawangan

This is the lively island, with the widest choice of hotels and restaurants. The west coast is calmer than the harbour strip. Choose it for nightlife, dive shops and variety.

Gili Air

Gili Air sits closest to Lombok. It has a real local village, family-run businesses and good food. It is the best all-rounder for couples and families, and it is the best value for money.

Gili Meno

Meno has long, often empty beaches and the best-preserved reefs of the three. Choose it to switch off. The big fast boats are not allowed to stop here, so take a short local boat from Trawangan or Air, or come from Bangsal.

Dive prices are fixed jointly across the three islands, so pick your island for the vibe, not for the dive bill. For general background on the group, see the Gili Islands on Wikipedia.

How Many Nights to Stay

Two nights is the minimum once you count the boat time in and out. Three or four nights lets you see more than one island. This plan uses the public island-hopping boat, which links all three islands twice a day for about IDR 35,000.

• Day 1: Arrive on Trawangan or Air. Drop your bags, rent a bicycle and ride the coast road to find your favourite beach.
• Day 2: Snorkel off the beach. Turtles graze off all three islands, and the reefs are shared, so any island works.
• Day 3: Hop to Meno. Look for the underwater Nest sculptures off the west coast and Turtle Point in the north-east, then eat a quiet dinner on the sand.
• Day 4: Take the morning boat back to Bali or Lombok, with a buffer for the sea and the road.

If you only have one day, Gili Air is the easiest to do on foot and by bike, and it has the most local feel.

Timing matters more on this route than on most Indonesian ferries. The sea gets rough in the windy months, and the boats fill in the busy ones.

Dry season runs April to September. Temperatures stay around 27 to 32 °C all year. Book ahead in August and September. Expect choppy seas or cancellations from June to September, according to Trioffe Hospitality.

Tips for a Smoother Crossing

• Take a morning departure. The sea is usually calmer.
• Sit near the middle of the boat, where the motion is gentler.
• Ask a pharmacist about motion-sickness tablets before you go.
• Keep valuables and your passport in a small bag, not in the luggage pile.
• Allow a spare half day on your return if you have a flight the same day.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Booking Gili Meno straight from Bali. Big boats do not stop there.
• Choosing Sanur for speed. The crossing is up to twice as long as from Padang Bai.
• Leaving booking until the dock. Boats sell out in August and September.
• Arriving without cash. Beach vendors, local boats and horse carts want cash.

There are no motor vehicles on any of the three islands. You walk, ride a bicycle or take a cidomo, a horse-drawn cart.

Bikes and Carts

A bicycle costs about IDR 50,000 a day. Gili Air takes under 20 minutes to cross by bike. Trawangan takes about an hour to ride around. Cidomos carry luggage from the harbour to the hotel.

Cash and ATMs

Cards work in most hotels and cafés. Beach vendors, boats and cidomos want cash. Trawangan has the most ATMs. Meno has very few, so withdraw before you arrive.

What Things Cost

Day-to-day costs are similar across the islands. Basic rooms start at around US$12 to 24. A local meal costs about US$1 to 2.50. A Western dish costs about US$4 to 8. The gap opens at the top end, where the best resorts cost US$300 to 500 a night in high season. These are figures from Trioffe Hospitality's Gili guide, and they change with the season.

What to Eat

Most beach restaurants grill the catch of the day in the evening. Warungs serve nasi goreng (fried rice) and nasi campur (rice with several side dishes) at the lowest prices. Some hotels deliver dinner to your villa or barbecue it on the beach. On Meno, dinner is often a barefoot meal on the sand.

The islands have a hotel for every budget. The prices below are "from" rates that Trioffe Hospitality saw on booking sites in late 2026. They change with the season. See the full reviews in its best boutique hotels in the Gili Islands.

Gili Trawangan

Pondok Santi Estate sits on the quiet south-west coast, 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the harbour strip. Bungalows start at about US$92 and often cost US$200 to 330 in season. Guests score it around 9.7. Pearl of Trawangan is the central choice near the bars and boats, from around US$70 to 165.

Gili Air

PinkCoco Gili Air is adults-only on the sunset side of the island. Rooms cost about US$95, and it scores 9.3 from more than 1,700 reviews. Slow Gili Air has ten private-pool villas from about US$195, with breakfast delivered to your villa.

Gili Meno

BASK Gili Meno opened in 2023 opposite the Nest sculptures. It is the most ambitious hotel on the islands, at about US$310 to 380. MAHAMAYA Gili Meno is the mid-range beachfront pick, from about US$70 to 100, where turtles feed in front of the loungers.

Trioffe may earn a commission when you book through links on its own pages. It says its picks are editorial and never paid for.

Planning more trips? See our guides to Raja Ampat Vacation Checklist, Good Times to Visit Japan and Kandy Sri Lanka Attractions.